Integrated institutional first aid kit

ABSTRACT

A integrated institutional first aid kit for use in schools, playgrounds, daycare facilities and other similar environments, wherein the integrated institutional first aid kit enables first aid medicines, hygienic needs, cold packs, and regulatory forms to be carried in a single package. The integrated institutional first aid kit also enables the user to quickly and easily access tissues or other hygienic needs without exposing internal compartments to contamination through the use of external openings. The integrated institutional first aid kit further allows for the storage of cold packs through the use of an segregated, insulated pocket. The integrated institutional first aid kit can be formed in any of a variety of materials including various nylon blends, or in a rigid format formed of plastic or metal commonly used for such applications and known within the art.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to first aid kits, and more specifically, to anew and useful means for providing first aid essentials in a school,playground, day care or similar environment.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

In the field of emergency medical care there are dozens of kitscomprised of various components and laid out in a variety of formats.For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,097 describes a first aid kit utilizingdistinct pockets, each pocket marked by an indicia regarding the sort ofinjury treatable by the contents of the pocket. It further describesflotation means to enable a user to maintain buoyancy in an emergency.Another invention, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,702 utilizes acard-catalog style layout and a detailed instruction book to offerbenefits to users.

No prior art known to the inventor describes a first aid kit that suitsthe particular needs of institutional use through the use of anintegrated clipboard, nor does any prior art describe a first aid kitfor institutional use which provides an insulated cold area. Finally, noprior art depicts a first aid kit which segregates easy access itemsrequiring less sterility, from more protected items where greatersterility is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is comprised of an integrated institutional first aid kitconstructed to contain a plurality of pockets or internal voids withinthe integrated institutional first aid kit, a clipboard means, and acentral insulated region for storing cold packs or ice packs for firstaid needs. The first aid kit would provide quick and easy access in onelocation for the most common needs for providers of child care in theschool or playground environment and allow the providers to utilize onekit rather than carry multiple items to address the current health,sanitation, and regulatory needs of today's providers. Keys to thedesign are a tissue dispenser on an outside surface, allowing for thefast and sanitary distribution of tissues without exposing the innerportions of the kit to dirt or germs, a fold out clipboard and penholder to accommodate the regulatory forms that are required in moststate school systems every time first aid is administered, and anintegral insulated pocket for cold packs or ice packs.

The integrated institutional first aid kit of the invention could takethe form of a multi-pocket soft case, an external closure means, such asa hook and loop equipped strip, and a plurality of internal pocketsideally situated around an insulated internal pocket. In the preferredembodiment, the integrated institutional first aid kit of the inventionis comprised of a semi-rigid compact fabric kit bag which opens on onesurface exposing the clipboard and regulatory forms, medical gloves, androom-temperature first aid items, with a second sealed closuremaintaining the cool chamber for ice packs. A singe pocket accessiblefrom the outside and segregated from the other internal areas wouldaccommodate a standard or small-sized tissue box and allow access fromthe outside of the kit without opening the kit. This allows for a uniquesolution to school first aid providers and other providers of aid in agenerally pediatric fashion, to provide for the common needs of thechildren, and for the increasing regulatory needs in a single kit, whilesimultaneously providing an easy and compact solution for cold packs andthe like.

The integrated institutional first aid kit can be constructed from anyof the natural or synthetic materials commonly used for sewn goods, withsufficient rigidity to protect the contents and sufficient durability towithstand the rigors of playground presence, or, alternatively, fromsome cast or molded rigid synthetic materials with similarcharacteristics. Certain grades of nylon fabric used for active outdoorpurposes are commonly employed for kit construction, and this same nylonmaterial may be utilized in the chief embodiment of the invention.

Taken severally or in combination the novel features of the integratedinstitutional first aid kit offers benefits exclusive to the field.

The present embodiments, described in the foregoing, satisfies the needwithin the art by providing a integrated institutional first aid kitwith cold-pocket and clipboard means which allows the user numerouscapabilities not otherwise available with the current first aid kits onthe market.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are listedbelow:

-   -   (a) It is one object of this invention to provide a first aid        kit ideally suited to the needs of schools, daycares, and other        similar institutions    -   (b) It is another object of this invention to provide the most        common playground first aid necessities in a single package;    -   (c) It is another object of this invention to promote regulatory        compliance to state and federal laws by bundling regulatory        forms, writing means and clipboard within the first aid kit of        the invention;    -   (d) It is another object of this invention to provide a mobile        and compact means of maintaining cold packs in a child care or        playground environment;    -   (e) It is yet another object of this invention to promote good        hygiene by keeping tissues on the outside of the kit, reducing        access to inner portion for true first aid needs, and thereby        increasing the cleanliness of the inner portion of the kit.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exterior profile view of a integrated institutionalfirst aid kit in an open position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 An integrated institutional first aid kit-   11 A clipboard means within the integrated institutional first aid    kit-   11A A closure means on the clipboard means for closing the first aid    kit-   12 Internal pockets for first aid medicines and medical gloves    within the first aid kit-   13 The cold storage pocket within the first aid kit of the invention

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS—FIG. 1

Now turning to the drawing it will be observed that it depicts adetailed drawing of one typical embodiment of an integratedinstitutional first aid kit 10 with clipboard means 11 serving as a lidfor the first aid kit using closure means 11A to seal the lid. Theinternal pockets 12 hold supplies securely within the case and may beindividually labeled to maintain continuity and to ensure properre-supply. The cold storage pocket is insulated and maintains its ownseparate closure to aid in maintaining the cold environment necessaryfor cold pack or ice pack storage.

OPERATION OF INVENTION

The manner of using the first aid kit of the invention is as follows:The integrated institutional first aid kit will be stocked with thenecessary first aid items such as bandages, antiseptic, medical gloves,tissue, cold packs, tissues and the like. It will also be supplied withthe necessary regulatory forms required by law in schools and otherinstitutions when medicine is dispensed, and these forms will be affixedto the clipboard of the first aid kit. The first aid kit will then beemployed in a playground, nurses office or other environment. Tissueswill be dispensed as desired without a need for opening the first aidkit and exposing the internal portions to dirt and germs by virtue ofthe tissue opening described in the invention. Additionally, minorinjuries requiring cold packs will now be treatable at the site withoutresorting to a second device in the form of a cooler or refrigerator byvirtue of the cold pack storage area of the invention.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF INVENTION

Thus the reader will see that integrated institutional first aid kit ofthis invention provides a new and highly effective means for enablingcare providers to carry and maintain the necessary first aid essentialsfor an institutional, school or playground environment whilesimultaneously providing means for regulatory compliance integrally.Additionally, the integrated institutional first aid kit allows for allof the benefits of a first aid kit combined with the benefits of coldstorage, and hygienic non-first aid needs in a single package.

While the above description contains certain specifics, it should not beconstrued as a limitation upon the described invention, but merely asproviding illustrations of certain currently preferred embodiments.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appendedclaims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

1. An integrated first aid kit comprising: enclosed first aid storageand an integrated clipboard,
 2. An integrated first aid kit consistingof: (a) a plurality of first aid storage pockets; (b) An insulatedpocket; (c) A clipboard;
 3. An integrated first aid kit consisting of:(a) a plurality of first aid storage pockets; (d) An insulated pocket;(e) A clipboard; (f) A segregated tissue access point;